OmegaQuant, the makers of omega-3 fatty acid test kits, recently launched a new Omega-3 Index Test for pets, complete with a sample collection kit pet owners can bring to their veterinarian to measure their pet’s omega-3 status.
 
Research shows that the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA provide numerous benefits for pet, including supporting heart, brain, and joint health, as well as healthy immune function. Much like their human counterparts, pets often do not receive enough omega-3s from their diet. Testing the nutritional status of their pets is a way for pet owners to determine to what extent their pets’ diets are delivering these nutrients, and increase them based on their pets’ omega-3 levels as a reference point.
 
The Omega-3 Index Test for pets is very similar to that used for humans, however, the optimal Omega-3 index for pets is around 3%, whereas for humans it is 8% – also, the test must be carried out by a veterinarian because it requires a blood draw.
 
OmegaQuant reports that the Omega-3 Index Test for pets will make supplementation for pets much more approachable for their owners, in addition to the way pet owners approach the types of foods they feed them.
 
“There is a rising trend among veterinarians and pet owners of giving companion animals like dogs omega-3s either in fortified foods or supplements,” Kristina Harris Jackson, director of research for OmegaQuant and developer of the Omega-3 Index for Pets, said. “Like in humans, the omega-3s EPA and DHA can help with health issues that have an underlying inflammatory component, but it’s important to know how to dose them. With high-concentrate fish oils, for example, you need to make sure you aren’t overdoing it on the EPA and DHA, while at the same time giving pets enough to achieve therapeutic omega-3 levels. We believe this test will close the loop for pet owners and veterinarians and give them the ability to deliver omega-3s to their pets with a bit more precision and peace of mind.”